Must-see, must-do for 2018

Places to go

The following destinations are truly breathtaking and are must-see destinations.

Taj Mahal

Located in India, the Taj Mahal is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The building usually has three to four million tourists walk through its doors and this has ultimately caused pollution and erosion. Experts believe it could eventually lead to its collapse. Reports are estimating that tourists will only have the next four years to visit this wonder before the sites close forever.

The Maldives

The Maldives is extremely popular for honeymooners. The island is surrounded by the crystal blue water of the Indian Ocean filled with colourful fish, white sand beaches, and water bungalows. However, these islands are the lowest-lying country in the world. Experts are predicting that this country will be fully submerged within the next 100 years.

Africa’s Congo Basin

The Congo Basin is the world’s second-largest rainforest. This area is home to over 10,000 plant species, 1000 bird species, and 400 mammal species. Although it is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, in the past few years this 3.4 million-square-kilometre forest has been rapidly disappearing. This disappearance is caused by illegal mining and unfortunately, the United Nations has predicted that by 2040 two-thirds of the forest will have been destroyed.

Sporting events

Sporting events are a great way to experience a side of a country’s culture that you may not typically see otherwise.

Super Bowl

On February 4, the Gridiron grand final will be taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This sporting event goes all day, starting outside the stadium in the parking lot. Many famous stars will attend the event, with the half-time show drawing almost more media attention than the game itself.

Winter Olympics

The 2018 Winter Olympics is being hosted in Pyeongchang, South Korea, between February 9 and 25. Following this, from March 9 to 18, the city will be hosting the 2018 Winter Paralympics.

FIFA World Cup

If you consider yourself a fan of soccer, the FIFA World Cup would be a dream come true. Between the 14th of June and the 15th of July, Russia will be hosting the World Cup.

Space phenomenon

Space phenomenon are truly wondrous. While some of the events listed below can be seen in Australia, most aren’t. Take a trip and see some of these wonders for yourself.

Total lunar eclipse

A total lunar eclipse is also known as a Blood Moon and will be visible on January 31 in large parts of the United States, north-eastern Europe, Russia, Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and Australia.

A second total lunar eclipse will take place on July 27 and 28. This phenomenon will be visible from most of Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and Antarctica.

Partial solar eclipses

The first partial solar eclipse will take place on February 15 and will be visible from South America, the Pacific, the Atlantic, and Antarctica.

The second partial solar eclipse will take place on July 13; this eclipse will be visible from Southern Australia, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean.

The third partial solar eclipse will occur on August 11 and will be visible from north-eastern Europe, north-western Asia, northern parts of Canada, Greenland, the Atlantic, and the Arctic.

For more ideas on where to travel visit our RACQ Travel Expos, they are free and our travel consultants will be able to find the holiday packages which best suits your interests and budget.